Automatic starting device for internal combustion engines



March 5, 1940. MCKINNEY ET AL 2,192,289 AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. 18, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 5, 1940. E. 1.. MCKINNEY ET AL AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION EN GINES Filed Jan. 18, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MarchS, 1940- MCKINNEY AL I 2,192,289 AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONVENGINES 5 Jw\ WW W W v a T T M w M w T m a T;. k F T N2 \774 w Ne T x R m x m W m N X ,,4 Home y March 1940- E. L. M KINNEY ET AL 2,192,289 AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. 18, 195:5 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'm' i.mvmm

Invcnlor 7 Home y Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE FOR. IN-

TERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES ville, Calif.

Application January 18, 1933, Serial No. 652,378

4 Claims.

This invention relates to starting devices for internal combustion engines and consistsin the provision of means for automatically closing the circuit to the starting motor usually provided in automobiles as a part of a starting mechanism for the internal combustion engine, so that, iffor any reason the internal combustion engine stops the device will cause the internal combustion engine to resume operation without requiring the attention of the operator.

Further the invention comprehends the provision of means whereby suction or vacuum created in the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine during operation thereof may be utilized for maintaining the device embodying the features of the present invention in a normally inactive position so as not to interfere with normal operation of the internal combustion engine.

The invention together with its numerous objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of an automobile showing the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view of a device embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a switch casing, the switch being shown closed.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevational View through a switch actuating device forming part of the invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the switch casing.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the cylinder forming part of the switch actuating device.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cylinder.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a slide member.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevational view through one end of the slide member.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a cylinder cap.

Figure 11 is a perspective view'of a switch blade.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a cam equipped shaft to be hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a stem attachment to be hereinafter more fully referred to.

, ameter.

Figure 14 is a perspective View of a stop collar and Figure 15 is an end elevational view. of the piston and its stem.

Referring to the drawings in detail by reference numerals and reference being had to Figure 1 it will be seen that the invention may readily be applied to a conventional type of automobile and in the present instance there is shown a portion of such an automobile, the same including among other parts the internal combustion engine I, hood 2, starting motor 3, accelerator pedal 4, and instrument board 5.

In its preferred embodiment the invention consists of a switch casing 6 receiving in its upper end the enlarged end portion 1 of a cylinder 8 forming part of what may be termed a switch actuator. The end 1 of the cylinder is secured within the casing 6 throughthe medium of any suitable fastening element 9.

Arranged within the casing 6 is a switch that includesa pair of binding posts In, H suitably mounted in a block 12 of insulating material arranged in the lower portion of the casing. The

posts [0, .l l are connected in the circuit with the battery and the starting motor 3 through the medium of the wires l3. The post In is provided with a fixed contact H! with which is cooperable a metallic spring like movable contact or blade [5 that is suitably anchored at one end to the post II. The blade I5 is normally flattened so as to tend to normally engage the contact M for closing the switch, and consequently the circuit to the starting motor.

The aforementioned switch actuating device includes in addition to the cylinder 8 a piston "5 arranged to reciprocate within the cylinder and pro-vided with a stem I! having a threaded free end [8 on to which is screwed the socketed head IQ of a pin or stem extension 20. A lock nut 2| is provided for securing the socket [9 at the desired adjustment on the end l8 of the stem H. The free end of the pin 20 extends through a slot 22 provided in a curved portion of the switch blade 15, and is equipped with laterally extending pins 23 engaging the blade IS in a manner clearly shown in Figure 2. For the top or upper end of the cylinder 8 there is provided a cap 24 screwed on to said cylinder and this cap is provided with a threaded nipple- 25 that extends through the top of the cap and is provided with a bore of relatively small di- A vacuum tube 26 has one end engaged with the nipple .25 and a relatively opposite end tapped into the intake manifold 21 of n the internal combustion engine I as suggested in Figure 1.

From the description of the invention thus far it will be seen that normally, under action of the switch blade I5 piston I6 is normally urged downwardly. When the internal combustion engine I is running the vacuum created in the intake manifold 21 will act on the piston I6 for drawing the same upwardly to the position shown in Figure 4 thus raising the switch blade I5 out of engagement with the contact I4. If, now for any reason, the internal combustion engine should stop, thus releasing vacuum in the intake manifold, piston I6 under action of the switch blade I5 assisted by gravity, will move downwardly so that the switch blade I5 will engage the contact I4 thus completing the circuit to the starting motor 3 causing the internal combustion engine to resume operation as is obvious.

A stop collar 28 of any suitable resilient ma terial is seated within annular groove 29 provided internally of the cylinder 8 at the upper end thereof and as shown in Figure 4 the upper end of the piston I6 abuts the collar 28 when the piston is at the limit of its upward movement thus serving to provide a suitable space in the upper end of the cylinder above the piston to insure efficient operation of the device. The cap 24 is also provided with a suitable aperture in the top thereof for lubricating purposes, and. a plug 30 normally closes the aperture.

Means is also provided for manually opening the switch arranged in the casing 5, and in the present instance such means comprises a shaft 3| extending transversely in the casing 6 and provided on an intermediate portion thereof with a cam 32 arranged to engage the switch blade I5 for swinging the blade upwardly to open the switch upon rotation of the shaft 3! for swinging the cam 32 from the full line position shown in Figure 1 to the dotted line position shown in said figure. On one end shaft 3I is provided with a crank arm 33 to which is connected one end of a Bowden wire 34 that leads upwardly through the instrument board 5 and is equipped with an actuating knob 36 so that the operator by suitably manipulating the knob 36 may rock the shaft 3! for opening or closing the switch as may be found desirable or necessary.

Means is also provided for holding the piston or plunger I6 in its upper or switch opening position; and such means in the present instance comprises an elongated slide 31 provided at one end with a relatively wide notch 33 merging into a relatively narrow notch 39. At its other end the slide 3'I' is provided with a slot 40 in which is adjustably secured through the medium of block nuts 4| an eye bolt 42.

The slide 31 is constrained to shift in a slot 43 provided in the enlarged end 'I of cylinder 8 as shown in Figure 4. The plunger or piston stem I'I adjacent its threaded end is reduced to accommodate the slotted portion of the slide 31 and to provide upper and lower stop shoulders 44, 45 to abut the slide 3! for limiting vertical movement of the piston.

The slide 31 is operatively connected with the throttle or accelerator pedal 4 through the medium of an arm 48 connected with the throttle valve operating rod 41 and a link 48 connecting the arm 46 with the eye bolt 42 all in the manner clearly suggested in Figure 1.

As is well known, when the speed of the internal combustion engine is relatively high, vacuum is reduced with the result that the plunger I6 the extent of permitting piston I6 to move downwardly, shoulder 44 thereof will engage the slide 31 at opposite sides of the slot 39 and the downward movement of the piston is thus limited to an extent sufficient to prevent movement of the switch blade I 5 into engagement with the contact I4. When however the internal combustion engine is idle, or is running at a relatively low speed, slide 31 will be positioned for placing the slot 38 thereof relative to the stem I'I' to permit the stem to move vertically through the slot to either a switch closing or opening position.

In operation, and when it is desired to use the device, the internal combustion engine is started in the usual manner and as vacuum develops in the line 25 piston I6 moves upwardly for holding the switch blade I5 out of engagement with the contact I4. If for any reason the engine stalls relieving vacuum in the cylinder 8 the piston It moves downwardly and the switch blade I5 will move into engagement with the contact I4 for closing the circuit to the starting motor 3 resulting as is obvious in a resumption of operation of the internal combustion engine. Should the speed of the internal combustion engine become so excessive as to relieve vacuum in the line 26 a closing of the switch will be prevented by reason of the fact, as before stated that as the accelerator 4 is moved downwardly for increasing the speed of the internal combustion the slide 31' is shifted to the position shown in Figure 4 so as to limit downward movement of the piston I6.

When it is desired not to use the device the operator by pulling outwardly on the button 35 will rock the shaft 35 for swinging the cam 32 to the full line position shown in Figure 2 to the dotted line position shown in said figure for raising and holding the switch blade I5 out of engagement with the contact I4. Upon pushing the button 36 inward shaft 3| will be rotated in a reverse direction for moving the cam to the full line position shown in Figure 2.

Even though we have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of further changes. modifications and improvements coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new is:

1. In a starter switch for internal combustion engines, a casing. a cylinder having a diametrically enlarged lower end portion fitting snugly Within said casing, a piston mounted for reciprocation within said cylinder, a stem connected with the piston and operating in an opening provided in said enlarged portion of said cylinder communicating said cylinder with said casing, circuit opening and closing means arranged within said casing and controlled by the move ment of said piston, an operating connection between said piston stem and said circuit opening and closing means for operating the latte", a vacuum conduit connected with the upper end of said cylinder to cause the upward movement of iii) said piston, a slide mounted on the enlarged portion of said cylinder and movable across the path of the piston stem, and interengaging means on the piston stem and said slide for holding the piston in upposition within said cylinder.

'2. In a starter switch for internal combustion engines, a cylinder, a switch casing at the lower end of said cylinder, a piston mounted for reciprocation within said cylinder, a switch in said casing, a rod for said piston movable into and out of said switch casing, an operating connection between said piston rod and said switch for operating the switch, a vacuum line connected with the top of said cylinder to hold the piston in' position for normally retaining the switch in open condition, a slide mounted in the lower end of said cylinder, inter-engaging means on the piston rod and said slide cooperable when the slide is in one position for holding the piston in position to retain the switch in open condition, an accelerator pedal and an operating connection between said accelerator pedal and said slide for transmitting movement of the pedal to said slide.

3. In a starter switch for internal combustion engines, a casing, a cylinder having a diametrically enlarged lower end portion fitting snugly within said casing, a piston mounted for reciprocation within said cylinder, a stem connected with the piston and operating in an opening provided in said enlarged portion of said cylinder communicating said cylinder with said casing, circuit opening and closing means arranged Within said casing and controlled by the movement of said piston, an operating connection between said piston stem and said circuit opening and closing means for operating the latter, a vacuum conduit connected with the upper end of said cylinder to cause the upward movement of said piston, a slide mounted on the enlarged portion of said cylinder and movable across the path of the piston. stem, and interengaging means on the piston stem and said slide for holding the piston in up-position within said cylinder, said circuit opening and closing means including a fixed contact, a spring contact, and remote control cylindrical means for moving the spring contact out of engagement with the fixed contact and to retain the spring contact in said position relative to the fixed contact independently of the piston.

4. In a starter switch for internal combustion engines, in combination, a circuit opening and closing device, including a fixed contact, a spring contact anchored at one end, a piston, a cylinder, said piston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder, a rod connected with said piston, an operating connection between said rod and said spring contact, said contact adapted to move the piston toward one end of said cylinder, and the operating connection between said piston rod and said spring contact being operable to transmit movement of the piston to the spring contact only upon movement of the piston in a reverse direction toward the opposite end of said cylinder, for moving the spring contact out of engagement with the fixed contact, an accelerator pedal, means operatively connected with the accelerator pedal adapted to engage the piston rod for holding the piston in circuit opening position, and mechanical means for moving the spring contact out of engagement with the fixed contact and relative to the piston rod.

EDWIN L. MCKINNEY. HAROLD E. EAGLE. 

